Rock Island County

Functions of County Offices

Animal Control Functions: To uphold and enforce, as required by State Statute, the Illinois Animal Control Act, Human Care for Animals Act, Animal Welfare Act, and any County or Municipal Ordinance pertaining to animals.

Circuit ClerkFunctions: The Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court is a Constitutional Office. The Clerk is Elected on a Countywide Basis by the citizens of Rock Island County for a four-year term. The Circuit Clerk is a non-judicial office of the Judicial Branch of Illinois State government. The duties are set forth by Statute, Rules of the Supreme Court and Administrative Orders of the local Circuit Court.

The Clerk is responsible for maintaining a record of all traffic, civil, and criminal cases filed and heard in Rock Island County. On a daily basis, the office interacts with the public and attorneys performing several functions including the collection and disbursement of fines, fees and child support. The office is also responsible for recording filed documents and maintaining a record of all court proceedings. The Clerk is required to attend sessions of the Court, keep and preserve all records and files of the Court, issue process as required by law, and is the Keeper of the Seal of the Court. The Circuit Court handles every type of case from a traffic tickets to felony cases; from Small claims to large personal injury suits; from adoption to probate of an estate.

Over 60,000 new cases are filed each year. There are currently twelve (12) Circuit Judges and ten (10) associate Judges. Court is held in two satellite locations outside the Courthouse building. In 1999, the Circuit Clerk's Office processed collection of more than $21 million in fines, fees and child support payments.

CoronerFunctions: The Coroner's Office is the legal/medical office mandated by the Statutes of the State of Illinois to investigate and assist in the determination of the manner and cause of deaths occurring within Rock Island County. The Coroner directs independent medical and legal investigations of death cases that come under the jurisdiction of the office.

The Coroner's Office is responsible for determining the manner and the cause of death in all cases of homicide, suicide, accident, in all cases where there was no recent attending physician, or where circumstances surrounding the death are obscure or mysterious.

The responsibilities of the Coroner are to see that the proper scientific studies are performed. These include autopsy, toxicology, microscopic slide examinations, bacteriology, X-rays, and whatever other studies are deemed to be appropriate and necessary in each specific case.

The findings are then prepared in official fashion and made available to appropriate people including family, attorneys, hospitals, physicians, courts, law enforcement agencies, States Attorneys, Public Defenders, and insurance companies.

County BoardFunctions: The County Board is the Governing Body of the County. The County Board operates on the committee system. Items concerning county government are discussed in depth by standing and special committees which then refer the items to the Board with recommendations for passage or denial. The Committees are appointed by the County Board Chairman.

Court ServicesFunctions: To hold accountable, Guide and Educate clients through the development of life and social skills, thereby empowering individuals, regardless of race, gender, circumstance, to live a law-abiding life; Provide consistent and caring services to offenders, vicitims and the community, encompassing the best interest of society and safety of its citizens; Adult services include domestic batterer's program, drug court, DUI supervision, Public/Community service; Juvenile services include detention screening, probation intake, probation supervision, Vicitim services.

Emergency Management AgencyFunctions: The Rock Island County Emergency Management Agency is responsible for the managerial function of creating the framework within the County which communities reduce vulnerability to hazards and cope with disasters. The office seeks to promote safer, less vulnerable communities with the capacity to cope with hazards and disasters. Emergency management protects communities by coordinating and integrating all activities necessary to build, sustain, and improve the capability to mitigate against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from threatened or actual natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made disasters.

Fourteenth Judicial District - Arbitration CenterFunctions: Authorized by the Illinois Supreme Court. Established in 2001 as a mandatory, but non-binding form of alternative dispute resolution. The program is a deliberate effort on the part of judiciary, bar and public to reduce the length and cost of litigation in Illinois.

Health DepartmentFunctions: RICHD has numerous programs for our residents and visitors, to promote wellness and to prevent disease and injury. Those of every age, gender, and income are touched by public health activities. We conduct individual health services as well as population-based strategies. From long-established food and water protection measures to emerging hazard preparedness initiatives, public health professionals at the RICHD are committed to improving the quality of life.

Highway DepartmentFunctions: Constructs and Maintains 202 miles of county highways and 33 bridges; Prepares road and bridge plans; responsible for supervision and inspection of all construction and maintenance projects on county highways; Provides information on road plans and right-of-way, provides advice and assistance to the 14 township road commissioners.

Hope Creek Care Center Functions: Nursing home with a purpose to reflect in all its activities the promotion of health with the advancement of growth for the residents of the facility, the personnel on our staff, and for all the people in our community directly and indirectly.

Mental Health Board (708)Functions: Plan and Allocate funds for, Coordinate and Evaluate a comprehensive system of community mental health, Developmental disablities and substance abuse treatment and prevention services for the citizens of Rock Island County.

Public DefenderFunctions: To provide quality legal representation in criminal and related proceedings to those defendants who are found to be indigent by the various courts.

Purchasingfunctions: Acquires quality goods and services that meet required specifications for county entities.

RecorderFunctions: Record many various documents, sell real estate, Transfer tax stamps, File U.C.C.'s and related documents, Microfilm documents other than U.C.C.'s enter on computer (Entry book, Grantor-Grantee indexes and various lien books) and post on tract index, and Scanning images.

Regional Office of EducationFunctions: Distribute state and federal funds to Rock Island County schools; Advise on controversial school issues; Assume responsibility relative to holding institutes or in-service workshops; Suprivise/Control school district's compliance with statutes; Visit each school annually and conduct a Health/Life safety inspection; direct and advise teachers and school officers; Inspect all building plans and school life/safety projects; Issue and Register teacher certificates; Assume responsibility for suspension of certificates; Determine that legal requirements of curriculum are met, appoint a truant officer and maintain a truancy program; Direct cooperative education program; Provide in-service training to school bus drivers; Issue work permits; Take a census of school districts; Keep a map showing school Districts; GED registration, score tests and Issue Diploma; Assume responsibility for certain scholarships; Evaluate and file School treasurer's bonds; Notify Districts of monies sent to school treasurers; Examine school treassurer books,Accounts, and Vouchers; Prepare office budget by October 1 of each year; Give notice of regular and special elections; Insure school board performance; Report to the county board and annually to the state board of education.

Organize and Administer educational contests for students in the county, Hold monthly district superintendent meetings, Hold county principal meetings three times a year, Meet with retired teachers regarding issues of concern; Organize, Coordinate and administer a cooperative purchasing program for all schools, organize coordinate and administer staff development programs for all educational staff in the County; Organize and Conduct quarterly meetings of the regional board of school trustees for Rock Island County.

Sheriff's DepartmentFunctions: Upholds and Maintains all federal, state and local laws. Effectively carries out all laws. Maintain prisoner population.

State's AttorneyFunctions: Provided by law(5/3-9005) as well as the defferred prosecution program and a bad check collection program.

TreasurerFunctions: Collects property taxes, Receives the revenue and Public monies of the county and pays out the same pursuant to law.

Zoning And Building departmentFunctions: Provide inspections of building projects to ensure code compliance; Guide the public through the zoning process when necessary; Give informatin and answer questions pertaining to building permits, inspections, zoning issues, floodplain development, planning and land use.